Employee and Employer Information: The paystub contains basic details such as your name, address and Social Security Number. It also includes the employer’s name and contact information, ensuring the pay stub is associated with the correct employee and company.
Pay Period: The pay stub displays the specific dates for the pay period that the earnings statement covers. Depending on the employer’s pay schedule, this period might be weekly, biweekly (every two weeks), semimonthly (twice a month) or monthly.
Earnings:This section outlines the various types of income you’ve earned during the pay period.
– Regular Wages: The amount you earn based on your regular hourly rate or salary.
– Overtime: Additional pay you earned for working more than your regular hours.
– Bonuses and commissions: Any extra compensation you earned through bonuses or commissions.
– Paid time off (PTO): The total PTO hours you took during the pay period and its corresponding value. This could include sick leave and vacation leave.
Deductions: This section details the various amounts withheld from your gross earnings to cover taxes, benefits and other contributions. Common deductions include:
– Federal income tax: This is the amount withheld to cover federal income tax obligations.
– State Income tax: If applicable, this is the amount withheld to cover state income taxes.
– Social Security tax: This is a percentage of your earnings paid into the Social Security program.
– Medicare tax: This is a percentage of earnings paid into the Medicare program.
– Health insurance premiums: This is the portion of health insurance cost paid through payroll deductions.
– Retirement contributions: If you contribute to a retirement plan, this deduction reflects those contributions.
Net Pay: After subtracting all deductions from your gross earnings, the paystub will show the “Net Pay” or “Take-Home Pay” amount. You will receive this amount in your paycheck after taxes and deductions have been accounted for.
Year-to-Date (YTD) Totals: The paystub may include YTD totals for earnings and deductions. This section helps you track your income and contributions throughout the year.
Understanding your paystub is essential to manage your finances effectively. Reviewing each section ensures that your earnings, deductions and taxes are accurately reflected each pay period. If you have any questions or concerns about your pay stub, contact your employer’s HR department or accounting team for clarification.



